“High, Wide, & Handsome” (Portrait of John Shelton Reed) Well, I finally finished the commissioned portrait (it’s HUGE,) of John Shelton Reed (the sociologist/historian/gourmande/ and all-round bon-vivante) and his equally accomplished Dale Vogler Reed. Both are very fine friends of mine (if a bit daunting), and I’ll admit to having been apprehensive/nervous about this one. The title comes from a 1931 Charlie Poole song. It’s as jolly as John is. Go to:
“High, wide, & handsome–that’s how I like livin’
High, wide, & handsome–that’s how life should be
Low, skinny, & ugly?–that’s for other people;
High, Wide, & handsome suits me to a tee.
High, wide, & handsome–you can call it my motto.
High, wide, & handsome, you can call it my creed.
Money’s just paper, and blood’s thicker than water.
I’m stayin’ high, wide, & handsome in thought, word, & deed.
‘High, wide, & handsome’–have it carved on my headstone,
With the day I was born, plus the day that I died.
Then take one from the other, all that’s left is a number.
Just remember I laughed twice as hard as I cried.”
go to:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3TcOuSPHMM
“Portrait of John Shelton Reed”
31″x28″
pen and ink
2014